by Julia Mills
“There is simply no way we can make it to you, lad, even if we take flight now. We are at least a day away as the dragon flies.”
Before Quinn could answer Kyran added, “Ye kin doo this. Froom whit ye've tellt us that wee liddle elf o' yers is packed wi' power.”
Raising her eyebrows, Elsa chuckled as Quinn shrugged as he answered, “That she is my friend, that she is.”
“And my sisters aren’t half bad either,” the elf added then chuckled along as Quinn’s brothers all wished them good luck and assured them of their victory.
Maddox was the last to speak as Elsa pointed to the ever-growing dark cloud carrying her auntie closer and closer. “Give her hell, Q, for all of us and we’ll see you soon.”
“And you all do the same. Sounds like our Phantom brought the fight to your door.” All the dragons chuckled. “Rest, you know the next fight is never far away. We will see you as soon as we can.”
Elsa knew she’d missed something important while planning Geneva’s demise with her sisters and from the single nod Quinn gave her there was no doubt he would explain later. She listened as they said goodbye and was ready when Quinn, spoke aloud with a clap of his hands, “Alright, what’s the plan?”
Without hesitation Harmony jumped in and explained, finishing just as Carolyn pointed and screeched, “She’s coming over the middle ridge!”
Everyone jumped into action. The elves threw on their snowsuits and boots. Quinn grabbed the coat her mother had made him and slipped his feet into her father’s Wellies. In less than two minutes, their mini army was out the door and scrambling for their positions. Elsa smiled as Carolyn took her position behind a huge holly bush to the left of their house. It had been decided since the elven matriarch rarely used her magic that she would stand by as a surprise tactic to throw Geneva off if the bitch got too close. The evil Halfling may be a nasty piece of work but she loved her sister and they were banking on her split-second hesitation if all else failed.
Looking around the huge expanse of frozen tundra between the cottage and the mountain range that she’d always called her front yard, Elsa noted everyone’s positions. Harmony and Penelope were the farthest away on either side of the valley about a hundred yards from the base of the smallest and closet mountain. Then about five hundred feet back sat Mona and Muriel, each as high as they could go in two enormous birch trees. She could see the flames already crackling upon their fingertips.
Lastly, and just fifty yards ahead of where she and Quinn stood out in the open in the middle of the dell, were Ivey and Olivia tucked inside the lush branches of two massive Douglas firs. If all went as planned, Geneva and her band of Buggars would be frozen and burnt and all but beaten by the time they even saw Elsa and Quinn.
Feet planted, shoulders back, the elf watched the eerie shadows of her auntie’s approach cover the glistening snow blocking out the moon in an attempt to blanket their world in black magic. Quinn’s hand wrapped around hers, she was once again in awe of their combined power and had to grin as his dragon stood at the ready, head bowed with his battle horns aimed at the coming challenge. She could feel her sisters’ magic filling the valley, fed on their anticipation and excitement, their belief that when they stood together, no one could beat them.
Dense fog rolled across the tundra, reaching the row of Yew Bushes Harmony and Penelope were using for cover only seconds before the first troop of Buggars flew over the final ridge and into the basin. From one second to the next, the elves erected a dense wall of snow and ice. Screams of pain filled the skies as the Buggars crashed into the nearly transparent barricade.
Taking their cue, Mona and Muriel began their assault. Streaks of fire filled the dark sky punching holes in Geneva’s black magic and blowing even more of the evil shapeshifting fairies from the skies in a show of sparks and flames that reminded Elsa of their New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Ear-shattering screeches of agony cut through the night sky as those that made it past their second line of defense were bombarded with spears of ice and cannonball-sized snowballs.
The ground was littered with the bodies of burnt and frozen Buggars as far as the eye could see. Their corpses smoldering through the ice leaving a macabre mosaic across the once peaceful valley, but still more came. Their numbers were vast. Their maniacal cackle mind-numbing. Elsa could feel her sisters’ fatigue as they continued to battle the malicious fairies. It took all her control to follow the plan as she shook with the need to help them. Finally, when the elf thought she could take no more, she spotted Geneva, using the last battalion of Buggars as cover, looking for an entry point.
Their eyes locked. Elsa saw the hate blazing in the depths of her obsidian eyes. The bitch was bringing the fight to them. This wasn’t just about their magic, she wanted their blood. Geneva’s long, leathery wings flapped with determination, blasting a staccato beat through the howl of the wind from the blizzard and the explosions from her sisters.
The snow from the sky mixed with the wall of sleet Harmony and Penelope were tenuously holding steady making visibility nearly nil. Steam rose like columns from the frozen and scorched bodies, the others had eliminated. Mona, Muriel, Ivey and Olivia gave all that they had, but the enemy’s numbers were so immense, there seemed to be no end in sight. The exhaustion her sisters were battling beat at Elsa, tearing at her resolve, making her doubt the plan to wait until the time was right to strike.
Her need to help, to lend her strength, battled with her deadly desire to defeat Geneva. Her hands raised of their own volition. Green light danced at the tips of her fingers. Her sisters’ welfare was more important. Taking a deep breath, ready to call a retreat, Elsa gasped as Quinn stepped behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered, “Wait for it…wait…here she comes…you can do this…five…”
The evil Halfling flew closer, gradually descending, keeping eye contact with the elf, attempting to use intimidation to make Elsa doubt not only herself but her sisters and her mate. Listening to Quinn’s words, feeling his strength, believing in his power, leaning on both man and beast, she counted down with him. “Four…three…two…”
Time stood still. The couples’ magic continued to crescendo. Her heart raced. Sweat rain down her back. She trembled as the massive power they shared pulsed to be set free. Finally, Quinn growled, “One…” Then shouted, “Now!”
Elsa let go of the grip she had on her magic at precisely the same moment Quinn and his dragon opened the gates of their minds. Magic burst from every cell of their beings erupting like a funnel cloud of lights and enchantment and colors. Shrieks of agony were barely audible over the symphony of their magic as bodies fell from the sky like black snowflakes popping out of existence as they touched down.
Vibrating with power, Elsa cursed aloud when through the chaos she finally caught sight of Geneva using Buggars, trees, bushes and even her sisters’ wall of snow as cover. Giving herself completely to her magic, the elf gasped as she felt Quinn do the same and in the span of a heartbeat was enveloped within the spiritual manifestation of his dragon.
Although transparent, his green scales shone bright in the glow of their magic. His huge wings extended to nearly the entire width of the valley. The battle horns that grew from the ridge of his brow and curved over his head shook with power as a row of thick, sharp spikes rising from the middle of his skull and traveling down his back shone like blades ready to shred the enemy.
Through their bond, the dragon looked first to Quinn and then to Elsa, giving them both a nod before flapping his mighty wings and taking flight. The elf lent all that she was to the magical beast, watching in awe and honor as he flew with purpose directly at Geneva. Her mate’s pride filled them both, adding to the strength of their enchantment, fueling the dragon’s mission.
Elsa didn’t hold back her evil grin or the gleam in her eye when her aunt finally caught sight of the mighty dragon. Raising her hand, Geneva attempted to throw first fire, then ice, then a steady stream of black magic at the beast, but the unio
n of elf, Guardsman and dragon was too strong.
The winged warrior gained on the Halfling as she frantically tried to escape. Dropping her left wing as she raised her right, Geneva attempted to dive and turn at the same time but the dragon was faster, stronger and battle-proven. Opening his massive jaws, the dragon gave an earth-shaking roar as fire flew from his gaping mouth.
Wrapping her wings around her body, shielding herself from the flames, Geneva dove for the ground, landing with a thud as she rolled towards the ravine, jumping to her feet just before sliding over the edge. Spinning on her toes, the Halfling thrust magic at the dragon as his enormous paws touched down.
Sparks flew. Smoke filled the skies. Good fought evil. Dark magic met white hot dragon fire as Geneva fought to gain ground over one of the Universe’s chosen warriors. The point where their magics met grew taller and wider. The glow made Elsa’s eyes burn but she refused to look away as the dragon, who was just as much her mate as the man who held her in his arms, fought against Geneva for not only the elf’s freedom and safety but also that of her family.
Her winged warrior moved forward. His huge claws dug into the ice and snow for support. Gaining ground on the Halfling, he pushed her back, step by powerful step. Elsa saw the fear growing her auntie’s eyes, saw the sweat on her brow, the tremor in her legs and the shake of her arms. Geneva was losing ground. She was all alone. Her army of Buggars lay dead or dying as the falling snow covered their remains. The elf could feel the thrill of victory.
But Geneva had one last trick up her sleeve. In one fluid motion, the Halfling fell backward into the ravine, unfurled her wings and glided to the other side. Smirking as her feet touched the ground, she once again thrust her magic at the dragon hitting him in the chest. Stumbling for a split-second, the beast roared, pulled even more enchantment from Elsa and Quinn and with a commanding flap of his wings shot into the air, breathing a steady stream of flames directly onto Geneva.
Elsa wanted to look away. Knew what was about to happen. But was simply riveted in place, unable to move, entranced by the way the dragon’s fire and magic tore away at her aunt, stripping the Halfling of her enchantment, burning away her wings and finally leaving her as nothing more than a smoldering pile of ash while her death screams still echoed through the air.
As if a switch had been flipped, the elves extinguished their magic. Quinn and Elsa pulled theirs back, watching together as the dragon, their champion, slowly floated towards them, fading back into his place within Quinn’s soul. Bone-deep exhaustion filled the elf as she turned in her mate’s arms, looked into his beautiful emerald eyes and breathed, “We did it. We really did it.”
“Yes, mo ghra’ we did,” he whispered just as his lips touched hers.
Falling into the kiss, Elsa let go of all her fears, all her questions and all her doubts. They had a lifetime to talk, right now she wanted to enjoy being alive and being in the arms of her mate.
The sounds of boots in the snow alerted her to her sisters’ arrival a half a second before Ivey called out, “Oh my Goddess, seriously, get a room. Do you guys ever think of anything else?”
Lifting his head, Quinn barked with laughter as he answered, “Oh, I plan to and no.”
His words were met with laughter as Carolyn commanded from the porch, “Get in the house before you catch your death. Aren’t you guys smart enough to get in out of a blizzard?”
“But what about the mess?” Mona asked, pointing over her shoulder at the remains of not only all the Buggars but also their aunt.
“Let me take care of that,” Quinn quickly offered. “You all go inside.” Then just to Elsa after kissing the tip of her nose, “I’ll be right in.”
“You better be,” the elf smirked, pulling her mate down for a quick but fierce kiss before turning on her heels and walking towards the door as he whispered, “I love you a little more with every passing second,” into her mind.
“And I love you,” she answered in kind, using their mindspeak for the first time as she uttered the words she knew he had longed to hear.
Chapter Eleven
Drawing upon the magic of his dragon, Quinn reduced all the bodies of the Buggars to ash and then watched as the blizzard blew them away. He could feel Elsa watching from the window of the cottage along with her sisters and couldn’t help but smile. She was everything he could’ve hoped for in a mate and in some ways, much more than he ever imagined he would have. Her strength and fearlessness were awe-inspiring. Her belief in him and his dragon after only a few days was nothing short of miraculous and the way she made him feel was like floating on a cloud.
Making his way to the spot of Geneva’s demise, he collected a handful of her ash, slipped it into his pocket for Carolyn and was just about to head back to the house when the sound of bells on the wind and hoofs in the snow reached his ears. Standing at the ready, Quinn laughed out loud as a sleigh pulled by ten full-size reindeer being driven by a man who could only be Elsa’s father come over the ridge, raced down the mountain and slid to a stop right in front of him.
Flipping his snow goggles to his head, Donovan O’Leary dropped the reins, jumped out of the sleigh and grabbed Quinn’s hand. “You must be the dragon I’ve been hearing so much about.” Then taking a look around added with a chuckle, “Looks like you handled the problem. My Caro said you were the man for our Elsa and I can see she was right.”
Turning around without another word, the elven patriarch got back into his sled and patted the seat beside him. “Come on, I’ll give you a ride to the barn. I’m thinkin’ you have a question or two for me.”
The ride back to the barn happened in complete silence while Quinn tried to decide exactly how to ask a man he’d only met a few moments ago for his blessing on the Guardsman’s mating to the elf’s daughter, whom he’d known for less than a week. Glancing out of the corner of his eye as they rolled right past Ivey, who had opened the big doors, the dragon looked back to see a cheeky grin on Donovan’s face and had to chuckle. The old man was playing with him and apparently having a good time of it.
Once the sleigh was parked, Quinn helped unhook the reindeer, take off their tack and brush them down while one by one the girls arrived, hugged and kissed their father then peppered him with questions about his trip. The Guardsman caught his little mate looking at him every time he turned around while she was talking to her father. It made his heart sing and his dragon purr to know she was having as hard a time as he was with being in close proximity and not touching.
Finally, when all the deer were fed and bedded down, Quinn listened as Donovan told his daughters to go help their mother with dinner and motioned for the Guardsman to follow him into the backroom. Quinn smiled as they crossed the threshold of the same room where Elsa had been caught ogling him by one of her sisters.
Coughing into his hand to hide his grin, Quinn declined when Donovan asked him if he wanted something to drink and sat where the elf instructed. Taking the chair behind the desk, Elsa’s father put his elbows on top, steepled his fingers and tapped his chin. “So, tell me how it works with dragons? Do you mate for life? Live with your family? Are you going to stay here or do you have a home of your own?”
Pleasantly surprised at the elf’s forthright ways, Quinn relaxed into his seat and answered, “Yes, we most definitely mate for life. We believe there is a…”
His words were cut off as the door to the backroom flew open and Elsa stormed in demanding, “It’s not fair that you two are out here talking about my future and I’ve been sent to the kitchen to cook and clean like the ‘little woman’.” She raised her fingers and made motions like quotation marks in the air. “This is my life, Daddy and I have a say in it. Anything you men,” she said the word with an abundance of disdain, “can talk about, I damn sure can, too.” Her tirade ended with a humph, a stomp of her foot and her hands on her hips.
Unsure what to say, but needing his mate to know he always had her back, Quinn stood, motioned for her to take his seat and then turned to
Donovan. “She’s got us there, don’t you think? Elsa has every right to hear what I’m about to say, probably more than you do.”
The old elf’s hands dropped to his desk, his smile grew and he nodded, “Absolutely. You are fine man, Quinn MacKenna, a fine man indeed. Please continue.”
Standing next to Elsa, Quinn was thrilled when she reached out and took his hand as he continued to explain. “Like I was saying, dragons believe there is one woman created by the Universe for each Guardsman. She is the light to his darkness, the other half of his soul and the mate to not only the man but the dragon within. We mate for life and beyond. There is only one woman for each man and should one of the couple be called to the Heavens before the other, he or she will prepare a place for their mate, waiting to be reunited then living for eternity, always in love, always together.”
He could feel his mate’s heart beat racing, knew she was hanging on his every word. It was a blessing and one he wanted to honor by telling her everything. “We do live with our families but not as your kind have been known to do. We live in clans that share a lair. Each couple has their own home but we are social beings and need the support of our brethren.” He paused, then added, “Since I have been away for a while,” chuckling along with both father and daughter at his brief explanation of his incarceration, “Elsa will be able to help me build a new home, one that will be all ours but that does not mean we will not visit. I know how important family is and would never do anything to come between my mate and those she holds most dear.”
Donovan was nodding and grinning when he stood, stepped out from behind his desk and walked to Quinn with his hand held out. As they shook, the old elf said, “I give you my blessing. I couldn’t have picked a better man for my Elsa.” Letting go of the dragon’s hand, Donovan knelt down in front of his daughter and said, “Now, it’s up to you, my girl. I think he’s a keeper but you have to follow your heart.”
